While early June is generally far too early for these sort of proclamations, the Bears continue to throw support behind their stopgap quarterback. Despite Chicago’s quarterback plans changing in late April, the team intends to honor a promise it made in March.
The Justin Fields draft choice notwithstanding, the Bears plan to keep the promise of starting Andy Dalton in Week 1, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. The Bears will play the Rams in Los Angeles in Week 1, opening the Sunday Night Football slate.
First-round quarterbacks generally take over quickly as rookies. The Bears did not waste much time giving the keys to Mitchell Trubisky four years ago, with the one-year North Carolina starter usurping free agency addition Mike Glennon by Week 5. This year, Bears GM Ryan Pace pledged Dalton — signed to a one-year, $10MM deal — would be the team’s starter. Of course, the team’s depth chart consisted of Dalton and Nick Foles at that point. Fields certainly throws a wrench into a lengthy Dalton stay atop the depth chart.
Matt Nagy said after the Fields pick he would like the Bears to use the Chiefs’ most recent QB-transition model, when Alex Smith started throughout Patrick Mahomes‘ rookie year. Nagy was Kansas City’s offensive coordinator that season. Comparing Fields and Mahomes is unwarranted at this point, but it would be surprising if the Ohio State standout remained on the bench for too long. The Kansas City model is quite rare, despite teams hoping to follow suit. Pace and Nagy entered the draft on scorching-hot seats. Their trade-up for Fields may have bought them some time, but the high-end prospect will almost certainly play early.
Only four quarterbacks chosen in Round 1 since 2011 — when that year’s CBA changed first-rounders’ earnings and timelines — did not become a primary starter in Year 1: Mahomes, Jake Locker (2011), Johnny Manziel (2014) and Paxton Lynch (2016). All but Locker started at least one game as rookies. The 27 other first-round QBs from 2011-20 started at least six games, with 22 of those starting at least 10. Although Dalton has nine-plus seasons as a starter and is reuniting with Bears OC Bill Lazor, recent history shows the 33-year-old passer does not figure to be long for the Bears’ QB1 post.
Is it true the bears had a trade with Philly lined up for Foles but Foles said no he doesn’t want to go back to Philly? I heard this on the radio but wasn’t paying attention that great so it could be completely false but I think it was something like that
I heard that too!
Philly never wanted Foles back, although many fans did.
And I plan to draft Fields in the 5th round and take another FF title!
Must not be including Love? Or am I reading the, “Only four quarterbacks chosen in Round 1 since 2011 did not become a primary starter in year 1”, wrong? I mean, I thought he was the 26th pick of the first round of the 2020 draft…..
No Love bro, no Love
Someday they’ll wish they showed the brother more love
I buy it. May as well let Dalton take the week 1 L vs. Donald and the Rams. Let Fields start game two and build some confidence against the Bengals.
I don’t have a problem with Dalton getting a start in the season opener. He’s an infinitely better stopgap than Glennon ever was or could be.
No rush.
Bears plan to lose game 1 I guess.
Making the assumption that Fields is better than Dalton right now in his first ever NFL start is rather bold.
Yeah that’s right. Fields is obviously the better long term play… but Dalton could give the Bears the best chance to win at this moment. He’s better than Glennon and Foles.
It won’t hurt Fields to watch a few games from the sidelines. The performance of the offense with Dalton will determine how many. I’m sure Fields will be in there before year end.
Dalton is better than people think. He did make the playoffs 5 or so times. I’d take him over Jimmy G, Cam Newton , Goff, and any of the Denver QBs
That’s on Nagy and the stupid KC model but cool no pressure for game 2 just being smart
There’s a big difference between Alex Smith and Andy Dalton. Too soon to believe Nagy will stick with this. 6 weeks from now, I’ll believe him.